Learning the perfect mindset from Paralympians.

With the recent allegations in the media considering some derogatory and offending behaviour towards disability athletes within British Cycling I thought to share a bit of my own experiences and work I've done with the best of the best in Paralympic sports. I'm trying keep this one more as a flowing one rather than full-on academic. First and foremost, they're superb athletes at what they do. So, please give them the respect they deserve.

While back I had the opportunity and priviledge to interview Finnish Paralympic athletes for a study exploring their 'amazingness'. In a nutshell, I highlighted those psychological characteristics and attributes that distinguishes them even from the elite. We are now talking about six amaxing athletes holding four Paralympic medals, 14 worlds medals and 11 medals from Europeans – and from the total of 29 medals 15 golds. As said; they're awesome when you measure by success.

However, that is not the point. They're even more awesome as persons. Whilst I compared them with their able-bodied Olympian colleagues, the expectable similarities were there: commitment, determination, self-confidence and motivation – you name it. Then the subtle differences were also there. For example, the Paralympians were more reliant on their support, no doubt.

I really don't have a clear cut explanation, but what dazzled me most was just their attitude towards life, sports and everything. They took the sport not just as a challenge also as a chance and opportunity to excel and achieve. Once that becomes combined to their general attitude, they become close bulletproof. They feel the pressure and hate losing – but it is not the end of the world, so they remain calm. They are masterful copers – there is always a way, you can shoot even if your finger use is limited. 

Beyond everything, there is the joy in what they do, because they can, they want and they're driven. Then there is the humour within the athletes, i've witnessed people stealing each others legs and hiding them – who the hell does that for fun? I could imagine myself being pretty angry or frustrated, if some one had taken my shoes or wheels.

I then tried to find out why are they so calm within challenge, passionate about what they do and well-balanced with their mindsets. We always got at some point to their disability. It creates a unique challenge in life and it creates adversity – they have to deal with that. Once that has been dealt with, winning becomes easy. Don't get me wrong with the term easy, there is nothing easy in winning – but winning is easier than the challenges in life.

That's what it is about. Us, able-bodied, should learn from the balance and attitude. Once we are in balance with ourselves and dedicated to what we do – we can perform. As one of the coaches said:

They've had to negotiate so many big challenges in their lives, so they just seem like immune to smaller contests.

Here we go, Paralympic games count as a smaller contest...

Finally, greeting to the athletes and coaches I had the chance to work with, if any of you happens to read this.